Chapter Forty-Five: Hypnotized in the Brightest Summer (2)

After finishing "Hypnosis," Cheng Xiaoyu took the microphone and said a few words to warm up the crowd, introducing each member of the band. When it came to Xia Shamo, the screams and whistles made her blush a little, which was quite rare for someone like her who transforms the moment she holds a mic.

More slips with song requests were passed up from the audience, and quite a few even asked for phone numbers. After the bar staff handed them to Cheng Xiaoyu, he coughed into the microphone and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, most of our band members are suffering third-year high school students, working hard during the winter break to earn some money. The songs we perform are all our own creations, so we can't take requests for now."

After that, Cheng Xiaoyu put on a mischievous grin and, in a deliberately soft voice, continued, "As for those asking for my number—alas, this body is already pledged to the nation, and I cannot pledge it to you. And with so many people in the audience, if you can fancy even me, there's nothing you couldn't dare to do—so please, don’t have any improper thoughts about our sweet lead vocalist."

This humorous rejection drew another round of laughter, making the audience feel that this band was truly interesting, and their goodwill climbed even higher.

Cheng Xiaoyu paused and then said, "The next song is another original—you won’t hear it at any other bar! You can start clapping now!" As a seasoned performer in bars, Cheng Xiaoyu knew exactly how to hype up a crowd, and he didn't mind talking a bit more, especially since Chen Jinglong had always treated them well.

After the applause died down, Cheng Xiaoyu continued, "A song about dreams and persistence, dedicated to all of you brave souls still racing down the path of life: 'Snail.' Thank you, everyone."

It was only then that Chen Jinglong realized he'd found a treasure. He noticed that Cheng Xiaoyu not only had remarkable musical talent and handled both performance and arrangement, but also was a natural MC—three hundred yuan was a steal. He thought that someone like this was destined for greatness and felt even more satisfied with his risky decision to invite a high school band to perform. Little did he know that in the future, his bar would become famous throughout Shanghai because of this very gamble.

In the current Chinese music scene, melancholic love songs practically monopolized the pop charts—seven out of the top ten songs this year were of that style. Inspirational songs like "Snail" were rare to be heard.

Most of the audience were students or young white-collar workers just starting out. Songs like this resonated deeply with them. Many students pulled out their phones to record videos. Tired of the usual syrupy love songs, the audience found this fresh, clear, and heartfelt voice a revelation. Even before the song ended, the vase on the table was once again filled with roses. The bar staff, unable to keep up, counted the flowers and, after a moment's thought, swapped the vase out for a blue plastic bucket—one vase simply couldn't hold all the love pouring from the audience.

By now, the bar was packed to bursting. Many had been called over by friends or classmates; after all, Jiaotong University and Fudan University were just a stone's throw away. Those pondering where to spend their evening all crammed into this little forest of lights.

When Xia Shamo sang the final, soaring lines—"Waiting for the sunlight, quietly watching its face. The small sky holds big dreams. I have a sky of my own. Let the wind dry the tears and sweat that have fallen. One day, I will have a sky of my own."—her rendition soared even higher than the original, reaching a high B. Thanks to Cheng Xiaoyu's symphonic rearrangement, the song's tension and expressiveness were pushed to the limit; the climactic high notes set everyone's blood racing.

The thunderous applause reverberating through Forest of Lights drew in even more patrons from the bustling bar street outside.

Seeing the bar had reached capacity, Chen Jinglong hurriedly stationed staff at the main entrance to hold back the crowd—no more could be let in.

But for Cheng Xiaoyu and the others, who had performed at the New Year's gala, this crowd wasn't particularly large, though the energy was on another level entirely.

Cheng Xiaoyu said a few words urging everyone not to push and to put safety first, then began the third song, "Huangpu River"—a gentler, more soothing piece.

He sang in this one too; Cheng Xiaoyu had never relaxed his standards for his own vocals. After months of deliberate training, he was now confident singing more challenging songs. Still, he hadn't had time to rehearse much, and besides, he wanted to develop Xia Shamo.

This was a song Xia Shamo was quite familiar with, and she especially enjoyed singing with Cheng Xiaoyu. Her pure, melodious voice floated gently through the stifling bar, supported by the clear piano notes, while Cheng Xiaoyu's rich, emotional voice added a unique flavor. Together, their voices blended like tea with milk, creating a fresh, sweet style. This gentle song miraculously soothed the crowded audience's hearts. In the packed Forest of Lights, apart from the music, there was not a single other sound. If anyone spoke, those nearby would immediately motion for silence.

When "Huangpu River" ended, everyone was left wanting more, wishing the music would never stop.

Cheng Xiaoyu, seeing the bar was filled to the brim, felt quite satisfied.

Speaking into the microphone, he said, "Thank you all for your support. We hope you enjoy our music. For our last song tonight: 'Eternal Summer,' dedicated to all of us who hold on to our youth without regret! Thank you!" (inspired by Chen Bing's blind audition version).

For this song, Cheng Xiaoyu put aside the keyboard and picked up the bass. It was quite a challenge for Xia Shamo, since the final high notes needed to be sung with a sense of tearing abandon—a triple high note, with no room for error. A single crack could ruin the song, but Cheng Xiaoyu had faith in her vocal skills.

First came Cheng Xiaoyu's deep, brooding, and melodic bass, interwoven with Huang Yong's intricate guitar lines. After the intro, Xia Shamo's gentle yet resolute voice entered, carrying the melody forward.

I destroy with pride
I despise the ordinary
Only to realize those were what I love the most
Let the summer play to its heart's content
Throw the cruel future
Wildly into the light-years beyond (and now)
Abandon the rules, indulge in love
Let yourself go, empty the future
I will not turn, I will not turn
I will not turn, I will not turn
Let the laws be simpler
Let order be more chaotic
This is the youth I like
Let the summer play to its heart's content
Throw the cruel future
Wildly into the light-years beyond (and now)
Abandon the rules, indulge in love
Let yourself go, empty the future
I will not turn, I will not turn
I will not turn, I will not turn

After the tightly restrained chorus came the explosive main verse—a gradual emotional build to a peak. Xia Shamo gripped the microphone with both hands, following the pounding drum beats, pushing her voice ever higher.

I want my madness, I want my love, that’s right
I want my madness, I want my love, right now
Ten thousand mp3s, ten thousand wild loves
Still can’t erase a tiny loneliness
I want my madness, I want my love, that’s right
I want my madness, I want my love, right now
A summer’s wild revelry has reached beyond the light-years
Is growing up really a necessary decay?

The whole bar seemed to fill with gunpowder; after a shattering high note rang out, every heart was strung tight, trembling in anticipation of the next torrent of sound.

Abandon the rules, indulge in love
Let yourself go, empty the future
I will not turn, I will not turn
I will not turn, I will not turn
Oh—

When those final, searing high notes burst forth, Xia Shamo conveyed the spirit of forging ahead without turning back to perfection. Every listener felt a burning catharsis.

Cheng Xiaoyu let out a breath—Xia Shamo had performed even better than expected. She brought out all the sharpness and drive of "Eternal Summer," and the courage to pursue one's dreams with unwavering determination.

The bar was completely ignited, applause and cheers threatening to blow the roof off the little venue, and even the bucket was overflowing with roses, with many still lining up to buy more to present.

Chen Jinglong could only force a smile; the money Cheng Xiaoyu and company made from roses alone far exceeded what he paid them for performing. What worried him more was whether business at Forest of Lights would survive without them in the future.

Cheng Xiaoyu had Xia Shamo thank everyone, then announced, "That concludes the show by Guilty Crown tonight. Tomorrow at nine, we’ll meet again here at Forest of Lights."

Cries for an encore came from all sides, but Cheng Xiaoyu quickly ushered Xia Shamo away. The night had been more explosive than he’d expected; with so many people crammed inside, he didn’t dare risk an accident by performing any more songs.

The four of them fled backstage as if escaping for their lives, barely able to contain their excitement. Even Chen Haoran, who had been reserved, was on his feet during the final song, with sweat streaming down his face, flushed with exhilaration.

Huang Yong, performing in a bar for the first time, was overwhelmed by the applause and cheers, in a state of restless excitement mingled with deep regret—for he was not truly a member of the band.

Xia Shamo, on the other hand, appeared calm on the surface, but her eyes shone with irrepressible light. She had found strength and joy in her singing.

Cheng Xiaoyu was happy too; at the very least, he realized that good music resonates anywhere, which gave him even more confidence to use his own music to create a new world. Of course, he saw himself as an ambassador for sharing good things—spreading joy and, incidentally, making a little extra on the side was no crime.

Wang Ou pushed open the door and came in, his face full of disbelief and excitement. Although he was present at all their rehearsals, the official performance still left him awestruck.

Wide-eyed, Wang Ou stammered, "Do you know how many roses the band received tonight?"

Cheng Xiaoyu had no idea what this was about and asked, "What roses? Weren’t those for Xia Shamo?"

Huang Yong quickly explained, "The audience gave the band roses—ten yuan each, and they’re all redeemable for cash."

Cheng Xiaoyu just replied, "Oh," not caring much about the money, but still asked, "How many?"

Huang Yong, just as curious, looked at Wang Ou.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Ou reported a number that even made Cheng Xiaoyu feel a little surprised.